“Más Fuertes Juntos”: Four Diverse Institutions Forging One Unique Alliance to be “Stronger Together”
Return to Agenda
Presenters
Ra’sheedah Richardson, TxARM
Ruby Mehrubeoglu, TxARM
Marybeth Green, TxARM
Co-Authors
Dr. Karen Butler-Purry (Texas A&M University-College Station), Ra’sheedah Richardson(Texas A&M University-College Station), Marybeth Green (Texas A&M University-Kingsville), Ruby Mehrubeoglu (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christu), Isah Juranek (Texas A&M University)
Abstract
Separated geographically by hundreds of miles and serving both intra-and interstate cohort participants at various career stages from dissertator to postdoctoral research associate to early-career faculty, the Texas A&M University System Research Model AGEP Alliance (TxARM AGEP) managed unique challenges with the development, implementation, and study of the TxARM AGEP Model. This workshop showcases components of this model, including six major thrusts, the reflective narratives of both faculty and academic support staff, and active steps taken to forge a unified identity and function “stronger together” in meeting our goals. Solidarity, for example, was forged through the collaborative design of an alliance logo. Decisions for the use of a project management tool supporting collaboration among team members and management of team resources during the implementation and study stages of the project will be discussed in detail. Shared governance and community-building practices guiding the design of both the leadership team and cohort online learning communities, and retreats will also be described during the workshop. Decisions to leverage essential outcomes and fine-tune the TxARM AGEP Model will also be discussed. Más fuertes juntos, “stronger together”, represents the pragmatic, collaborative, and affordable approaches taken by TxARM AGEP to overcome geographic and institutional challenges while building community and a common identity as an AGEP alliance. While describing the efforts of the TxARM AGEP alliance to address its challenges, this workshop also invites attendees to consider challenges facing their alliances and how partnerships with members of the greater AGEP community might help us function “stronger together”.